Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: The city (south) MLA, Vedavyas Kamath, has urged the government not to cut down the Dasara holidays in schools functioning in Dakshina Kannada district at any cost.

"Dasara festival has a special significance in Dakshina Kannada district. Just like Mysuru Dasara, Mangaluru Dasara also has won national recognition. During this period, ancient temples dedicated to Goddess Durgaparameshwari at Kateel, Goddess Rajarajeshwari at Polali, and Goddess Mangaladevi in the city are thronged by devotees in thousands. Giving holidays to children during this period has been a tradition that has been followed since very long," he explained.

Kamath noted that the deputy commissioner of the district had announced emergency holidays to schools and colleges on account of natural calamities, and that the education department has sent circular to all the educational institutions to set off these holidays against the Dasara holidays.

Kamath feels that reducing the holidays to October 14 to 21 from the earlier October 7 to 21 is improper. "Holidays being given for Dasara should not be reduced. The holidays given because of excessive rains can be balanced by holding additional classes on Saturdays," he opined.

He noted that the government has said that the issue of giving holidays for Christmas is left to the discretion of respective schools and colleges. Likewise, he has expressed the opinion that same stand should have been owned even in respect of Dasara holidays, duly pointing out in a release that the circular cutting Dasara holidays shows that the state government is owning dual stand on the same issue for different institutions.